It’s official, Jeremy Lin is a Houston Rocket after the Knicks chose not to match the 3-year, $25 million dollar contract that would’ve put them way over the cap. The Rockets played hardball by implementing the “poison pill” and backloading the deal. It may be in Lin’s best interest because a full year of NY media would’ve been a lot to deal with.
The New York Knicks confirmed on Tuesday night that they won’t match a 3-year, $25 million Houston Rockets offer sheet to restricted free agent guard Jeremy Lin. As a result, Lin is now a member of the Rockets.
“We are not matching,” A Knicks spokesperson told Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
The news came a little more than an hour before the 11:59 p.m. deadline that the Knicks faced in making their decision. New York had 72 hours to decide whether or not to match the offer that Houston officially submitted Saturday.
Lin, 23, rose to international prominence after a breakout season with the Knicks. Ironically, his strong play as a starter occurred just months after he was released by the Rockets without playing a game in Houston.
Source: CBS sports
